Justice News

Three Indicted on Federal Bankruptcy Charges

PROVIDENCE – A federal grand jury in Providence today returned indictments charging three individuals with fraud on the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. It is alleged that the defendants provided false information under oath in order to conceal cash funds they controlled when petitioning the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for bankruptcy protection.

Acting United States Attorney Stephen G. Dambruch; Harold H. Shaw, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division; and William Harrington, U.S. Trustee for Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, announce the indictment of Marcus A. Collier, 51, of Pawtucket, with one count each of concealment of bankruptcy assets, false statements under oath and false bankruptcy declaration, and, in a separate matter, the indictment of Danys Rivera, 47 and Diana Acevedo, 51, of Providence, with one count each of concealment of bankruptcy assets, false statements under oath and false bankruptcy declaration.

In the matter of Marcus Collier, it is alleged in the indictment that, in documents filed under oath with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, the defendant concealed $18,000 from the trustee charged with control of the debtor's property, and from the creditors and the United States Trustee.

In the matter of Diana Acevedo and Danys Rivera, an indictment alleges that the defendants failed to disclose and did conceal an insurance settlement of $61,064.43 from the trustee charged with control of the debtor's property, and from the creditors and the United States Trustee.

An indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Concealment of bankruptcy assets, false statements under oath and false bankruptcy declaration are each punishable by statutory penalties of up to 5 years in federal prison, a fine of $250,000 and 3 years supervised release.

The cases, investigated by the FBI with the assistance of the U.S. Trustee, are being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Denise M. Barton.